My phone buzzed again as a new message popped up. It was the middle of the night and Jungkook didn't seem to have realized that there was a time difference between him and me that meant a sunny morning for him but a full moon for me. Or he just didn't care.

Either way, I wasn't mad at him for robbing me of sleep, because I didn't have anything important planned in the morning and was therefore able to sleep in. Jungkook was currently in Paris with his father for work-related matters, which left me, Dalrae, and Mrs. Jeon behind.

I wouldn't necessarily say that Mrs. Jeon cared very much whether I showed up at the breakfast table or not.

I picked up the phone, its display now gone dark again, and found one of many pictures my husband had been sending me without end over the past few days. Sometimes it was a gloomy place filled with strange people or street corners full of trash that he had taken pictures of from his rental car when passing by.

And just because I had told him that people believed Paris to be the city of love. I personally had never been there. Every city had its dark side, I figured, but there were places ranked higher on my travel bucket list.

I laughed as Jungkook's face filled my display, a disgusted expression written on his features with the message that the place reeked of piss. I ignored all the tall buildings in the background. I knew he was doing it because he knew I wasn't a romantic myself and a city wouldn't represent love to me.

I typed a message back.

Me:
Seems like a perfect place for you to be.

Then I snapped a picture of myself lying in his bed among the soft blankets and pillows.

Of course, it was all nothing more than a joke. There was no way Mr. Jeon was staying in lower-class locations and that's why they were all probably staying in one of the most prestigious hotels. Jungkook and Yoongi were less picky when it came down to it, but of course, they had to keep their image on an important business trip.

And mentioning Yoongi, I eyed the box of macarons on my bedside table that Yoongi had given me. He had flown back earlier today and was probably roaming somewhere in his room, deprived of sleep caused by jet lag. His role in Paris had been fulfilled, which was why he had returned home early.

I had laughed out loud when he first pressed a croissant into my hand, squashed in a paper bag because of the long trip, but, as always, he was being an idiot and shoved the box of macarons into my hand afterward, half of which I already devoured.

I had never eaten macarons so delicious and the packaging alone told me that Yoongi had chosen one of the best patissiers, which I appreciated. Jungkook's message pulled my attention away from the macarons.

Two Pump Jk:
I miss my bed.

Me:
I don't miss the couch.

Two Pump Jk:
Have mercy, woman.

Now that he said that, his bed felt even better and softer than before. Maybe I really was a monster who fed off the misery of others. I laughed again. Then I changed the subject.

Me:
When are you coming back?

Two Pump Jk:
Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day.
At dawn, look to the east.

Me:
Ok, Gandalf.

Two Pump Jk:
You watched LOTR?

Me:
Only the first two movies

Two Pump Jk:
That's a crime
The third one is my comfort movie

Me:
I have read the books
I know what happens

Two Pump Jk:
No, it's a masterpiece
We'll watch it when I get back.

I had never pegged Jungkook as the movie type, simply because I never found him watching any. The only time had been on New Year's Eve and that had already shocked me so to know that Jungkook owned a comfort movie was...new. New but refreshing.

A smile found its way onto my lips before I broke out in a yawning fit. The clock struck three and I closed my eyes as I imagined Jungkook watching The Return of the King the moment he walked through the door.

A few days later, just as he had said in his message, he and Mr. Jeon returned from Paris. Apparently the meetings had gone relatively well and they had secured a few deals. Jungkook and I never talked business, so I didn't inquire further.

And now I was getting ready for our dinner that Jungkook invited me to for our first anniversary. It wasn't anything too fancy nor a celebration for the 365 days we had managed to go without jumping down each other's throats.

Just a night out. Just him and me.

I applied a little more mascara to my lashes and then lipstick while Jungkook put on his cufflinks. I hated to admit it, but there was nothing more attractive than when he did that.

Just as I took one last look at my appearance in the mirror, he came to stand behind me. His suit jacket was still hanging on the back of the chair, but just the white shirt and black waistcoat were enough for the evening.

Our eyes met in the mirror as I flipped my hair over my shoulder and caught only a glimpse of his nostrils flaring. It was the first time I looked at us together. Really looked at us.

It was our first anniversary and that's how much Jungkook and I had changed over the past few months. We went from abstinence to casual sex. From really annoying remarks to inevitably funny bickering.

My black strapless dress matched his black suit. His broad shoulders behind me offered protection to my slender form. His brown eyes reflected the same sparkle as my gray ones. So many differences, yet so unmistakably similar.

Jungkook's eyes turned away from mine in the mirror and I watched him as he roamed his gaze over my body. Then he fixed one of the strands of my hair that was sticking out of the mass and slowly let his hand brush over my arm.

We weren't a real couple, but we looked good as husband and wife.

As if Jungkook could read my mind, I caught the smirk on his face in the mirror before looking up at him. "I'm ready," I said and he nodded in response.

My high heels clicked on the hardwood floor once Jungkook led the way after he put on his suit jacket. We didn't have a driver today I noticed as I stepped into the cool evening air. His new Maybach smelled of leather and luxury when I sank into the seat.

"Where are we going?" I asked after a few minutes, the street lights sweeping past us and the engine rumbling.

"As a member of the Jeon family, it's almost impossible, but I wanted us to have a little privacy," he replied, throwing a quick smile in my direction.

"Please. There's no escaping paparazzi." I laughed and he shrugged in agreement.

The restaurant was not located in the center of town like all the others we had been to. The view on the top floor was perfect over the distant skyline and the clear night sky offered a bit more of the stars than I was used to.

Jungkook found me staring as the waitress led us to our seats. The soft clatter of silverware and occasional laughter from the other guests filled the room. Over a year ago, dark hair and a Tom Ford suit had been waiting for me in a restaurant. And today, we had come together.

My assumption of meeting the eldest son of the family had been dashed with Jungkook's grinning face, but now I was glad it wasn't Yoongi I was to share a future with. He was in love with another woman and I would have hated to destroy his hope in her, even if it was already infinitesimally small as it was.

Besides, Yoongi and I made better friends. With Jungkook, things were for sure easier since we both had set clear lines and as long as we didn't cross them, everything was fine. At least, that was what I told myself.

Settling into the cushioned chair that Jungkook pulled out for me, I let my eyes wander over the interior of the restaurant. I didn't spot any familiar faces, which was a good sign because the last thing I wanted today was to be in the headlines or the brunt of gossip.

The first few months of our marriage had been bad. There had been eyes on us everywhere and I had hated it. Now it was occasional pictures in which I looked good, at least.

"You like it?" I heard Jungkook ask as I found him looking around himself.

"It's nice." I nodded, resting my elbow on the table and placing my chin in the palm of my hand. "What are they famous for?"

"Anything with shrimp," he replied. Then we thanked the waitress who brought us the menu. "But I know you don't like shrimp, so I would recommend the steak."

I looked at him. The way he flipped through the pages, even though I was aware he already knew what he wanted to order. Maybe he was doing it to give me time, knowing that I always took a little longer with menus I wasn't previously familiar with, maybe not.

After our drinks arrived, Jungkook began swinging it around in his glass, leaning back in his seat.

"How was Paris?" I asked with a smirk on my lips.

He shook his head with a laugh. "Paris is great. If you have money and know where to go and what places you're better off staying away from."

"Sounds like New York."

"Any other big city, for that matter."

"True," I said. "And have you met any cute French girls?"

His laugh rang in my ears. "Would you be jealous if I had?" Clearly he was joking, because I knew Jungkook well enough now to know he wasn't a cheater. He would have done it a long time ago if he wanted to, despite our deal.

"If breaking your dick in two like a glow stick counts as jealousy..." I trailed off jokingly and his grin widened.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side." he took a sip of his drink and I sat back in my seat, satisfied. His eyes penetrated mine as he grew more serious. "Good thing we had our deal from the beginning, right?"

"It actually wasn't just the deal," I shook my head. I hated being vulnerable, but now that the conversation was going in other directions and Jungkook was more than just a signed contract on paper, it was probably safe to say that I could have open and deeper conversations with him from time to time.

"What then?" he asked, now curious.

I shrugged. "I'd be a hypocrite if I committed the same sin for which I despise someone else."

"I see." he hummed, seeing right through me. "Your ex was unfaithful."

"Multiple times." I nodded in response. I had never mentioned my past relationships to Jungkook because it was none of his business. But Jungkook asked not out of sheer possessiveness, but to turn the night more personal than we had previously allowed ourselves to be. "I found out that he had been cheating on me with my best friend for six months," I told him.

"What an idiot."

"I guess I was an idiot for not seeing the walking red flag that he was," I admitted.

Jungkook took another sip of his drink. "What else did he do?" he asked, then added. "If you don't mind me asking, of course." We paused our conversation as our food arrived.

"Just him as a whole. I guess I should have left him when he mentioned my mommy issues whenever there were any problems between us that I brought up. And his ego was toxic as hell." I continued when the waitress was gone.

As I looked up from the heavenly-smelling steak to Jungkook, I found him already staring at me. His food had not caught his attention and he tilted his head ever so slightly to the side that I would have missed had I not looked at him with the same intensity.

There was something different in his eyes. Maybe he was feeling sorry for me, which I didn't want him to. I was over it and it had happened a long time ago. Maybe he remembered that one time when he himself had mentioned my mother in an argument and only now realized how low it had been when he heard the same thing coming from someone else.

He had hinted at an apology after that, which I hadn't wanted. I had been tired of hearing the same thing from my ex all the time only to have the issue never change. I did not want the same thing to happen with Jungkook. For him to see how vulnerable the issue really left me.

It was the defense mechanism that I had unconsciously adopted. Apologies usually led to repetition. Maybe I was the toxic one for thinking that way, but it had been my experience thus far.

I ignored his brown, pretty eyes. "One time when I was on my period, he initiated intercourse and I told him I couldn't. He said I had two more holes to compensate. I think that tells you what kind of guy he was."

If Jungkook felt anger or anything else at the words, he didn't let it show, though I watched his pinky twitch for a fleeting moment as he reached for his cutlery.

"And all that combined, I realized, even if too late, that I deserved better," I finished. Expressing all this aloud for the first time brought up old emotions in me even if I tried to let indifference win. I had never shared this with anyone. Not even Sophia.

Jungkook's clenched jaw loosened a little as he spoke and he forced a grin onto his lips. "What did you do to him? The Reva I know surely didn't let it slide like that."

I smiled, which didn't reach my eyes. "The Reva you know didn't exist back then."

Now looking back, I realized how much I had put up with. Not only had I been betrayed by my boyfriend, I had lost someone I had called my best friend through my college years.

I had felt embarrassed for having been blind for so long. And the way my ex's cousin, who had been part of our friend group, had kept everything a secret. Even stood by them in support of such a disgusting act.

The betrayal had run deeper than the self-esteem of the old Reva was able to handle.

Jungkook's hard eyes made me lighten the situation up a little and I tipped my glass in his direction. Like I said, I was over it and I never wanted to be as vulnerable and self-doubting as I had been back then.

"I may or may not have made him write wrong answers on his last assignment, causing him to fail the class before I broke up with him," I said proudly with a grin.

"That's my wife." his matching smile with the deep words burned on my cheeks. "Although I think he deserved worse."

"He did." I agreed. Then I cut into my steak and took a bite before getting curious myself. "Aside from the fact that no one likes cheaters and that you're always jealous and possessive." I paused to look over at him to see if he found my joke equally funny and watched him roll his eyes playfully, which made me laugh. "Was there another reason you didn't want an open marriage?"

I didn't know what made me so certain that Jungkook wasn't a cheater, but I still wanted to know why he had held on so tightly, even though I wouldn't have been mad at him if he had slipped. Our marriage wasn't real and loveless, so I wouldn't have labeled it cheating in the first place if it had come to that.

"No matter how much a marriage is based on papers, there will always be someone who suffers more when you open the door to third parties," he explained, and I didn't quite understand what he was getting at. He noticed my confusion and continued. "My parents."

I wasn't necessarily shocked, but still surprised. "They had a prenuptial agreement?"

"Arranged marriages run in our family, I guess." Jungkook scoffed bitterly, but I didn't laugh.

"Arranged marriages aren't always bad." I countered him, reminding him of Heba and Abbas.

"Heba and Abbas are in love with each other. My parents, not so much. I don't want to go into it too much, but I just want you to know that they agreed to have three boys and were done with each other after that. My dad, however, couldn't always keep his lovers completely hidden, and my mom simply didn't care. Guess who was hurt the most."

The steak nearly stuck in my throat like a rock. Of course, I wasn't blind to see that there were no lovebirds flying between my in-laws, however, I hadn't expected any of this. Growing up in a household where you constantly watch all the important things of a marriage disregarded and disrespected is not a healthy one.

And three boys? That pretty much excluded Dalrae and perhaps explained why Mrs. Jeon was sometimes insensitive toward her.

"Is that why there is no mention of children in our contract?" I asked.

Jungkook took a deep breath. "I'm not against having children. It's just that innocent souls shouldn't be put into the world because of a few stupid signatures. There are enough children waiting for a happy home."

I had fallen silent. A new side to Jungkook was unfolding to me, one I had never encountered before. We had never talked about children before, and I wasn't even sure we would ever have any.

Children were a blessing and a lifelong commitment, not to be born for selfish reasons.

"It's our first anniversary. We shouldn't talk about my parents or your dick ex." Jungkook then broke the silence between us.

"You're right." I smiled encouragingly.

We finished our dinner in silence and then ordered dessert. By the time we were done with that, too, I noticed how much the restaurant had emptied out, but the conversation between me and Jungkook had taken a new, better turn.

I laughed as he talked about the business trip to Paris and how Yoongi had desperately tried to kindly reject the new business partner's assistant, who kept trying to flirt with him after working hours. Professional she was at least, I guessed.

"I enjoyed his glances calling for help more than I probably should have." Jungkook snickered.

I took the last sip of my drink, the tipsiness making me even more giggly. "You're a great brother," I said wryly.

"The best," he approved, even though he knew I was joking.

"But he's the best brother-in-law." I countered teasingly. "He even brought me macarons."

"If all it took was macarons to bribe you, I would have given you your gift a lot sooner," he said.

"You got something for me?" I asked in amazement. I didn't expect anything, but I wasn't one to reject a gift.

"Wasn't I supposed to?" he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, his suit jacket long since thrown over the back of his chair. "I mean you managed to go 365 days without strangling me in my sleep. I think that deserves a trophy."

"Ha ha." I rolled my eyes and he laughed. Then I leaned forward. "What is it?"

He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a black box, which he placed on the table between us. "Nothing too big. A souvenir from Paris."

I shifted my gaze from him to the box and pulled it toward me. When I popped open the lid there was a small card on whatever was under it. I felt Jungkook's eyes burning on my skin as I picked it up and read it.

For my lovely wife...

I laughed under my breath because he loved to call me that whenever he wanted to annoy me. It was one of many nicknames he called me. Then I turned the card over and almost choked on my saliva.

...and personal slut.

I scanned the restaurant to make sure no one was spawning behind me out of the blue, and my cheeks flushed red. I wasn't usually a person who got flustered easily, but I was caught off guard.

I wanted to smack him, but it was all true. Only this morning I had stripped for him solely because his morning voice had gotten me hot and bothered. It wasn't my fault that he was good at giving orgasms.

"I hate you," I whispered, trying to cool the heat on my face back down.

"I know, but that's not the actual gift," he stated deeply, looking back at the box in front of me.

Blue light fell on the jewelry, sparkling in the dim light of the restaurant. A handcrafted necklace lay carefully placed in the box, a gray gemstone attached to its end. It mesmerized me with its simplicity and elegance.

"It's Musgravite." he named the gemstone, which I had not heard before. "It reminded me of your eyes."

Slowly, I took the necklace out of the box for a closer look. Jewelry was rarely a thoughtful gift, but this one had its purpose. It hadn't been chosen just for the sake of it.

My manicured thumbnail glistened next to the stone as I gently stroked it. Gray was dull to many people, but oftentimes the color of a starry night. Sometimes it was thunder and sometimes where light met shadow. I looked back at Jungkook.

"It's beautiful. Thank you." I spoke appraisingly. "Can you put it on me?"

Jungkook walked over, his long strides bringing him to me in a matter of seconds. He took the necklace out of my hand and brought it to my neck. I helped him move my hair out of the way and he began to fasten the chain.

His skin felt warm and soft on mine as he worked on it. Then I drew in a breath when his soft lips gently brushed against my shoulder. A shiver ran down my spine and I closed my eyes.

"You're welcome," he rasped heavily before returning to his seat.

Now the necklace hung gracefully and shining beautifully between my collarbones.

"Shall we get going?" he then asked after a few minutes. Looking around again, I found only a few remaining patrons and hadn't realized how late it had actually gotten.

I nodded in agreement and he led me out of the restaurant after paying for our meal and leaving a generous amount of tip. We walked together across the parking lot since the restaurant had not been far away and hence no need for a valet.

Jungkook opened the passenger door for me, but I closed it again before opening the door for the back seat. I had made my decision on how the night would end. Looking up at him from the back seat, I saw him brush his thumb across his lower lip and flash me a lopsided smile that matched mine as I waited for his unspoken answer.

Before joining me, he took one last look around the empty parking lot. Midnight seemed like a good time for a little escapade.

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A/N: a year has passed since Jk and Reva got married AND since I posted the first chapter... time flies😭 I hope you enjoyed this chapter and as always, thank you all for sticking around even though it takes me ages to update 🤍